Grader



Nav. 6, 192s. Y 1,690,977

F. R. Hoop GRADER y Filed May 25, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet l sa 'f 0 O o O1 Y ze l r@ o ro o l I E a *N N s M Nm d s LS F Q INVENToR.

' Bl?. R. HDDD ATTORNEY F. R. HOOD Nov. 6,C 1928.

GRADER Filed may 25. 1927 s sheets-sheet 2 INVENTOR.

BY ERHDUD ATTORNEY Nov. 6, 1928.

F. R. Hoon Filed May 25, 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 IN VEN TOR.

TORNEY D D D H. R r..

Patented Nov. 6, 1928.

UNITED STATES Y FRANK ILVHOOD, OF STOCKTON, CALIFORNIA.

GRADER.

n Application led May 25,-

This invention relates to improvements in Y graders. y Y v v The principal object of this invention is to` produce a grader which is inexpensive. to con- 6 struct, and one having a'la'rge capacity.

Another object of this inventionis to produce a grader wherein the upkeep will small, due to the fact that the matrial'being graded rides on the conveyer and therefore l there is no scratching or grinding as is present in rotary screens orr shakers.

Another object is to produce a grader which Vwill give more accurate grading.

Another ob'ect is to produce a grader which l will not'injurethematerial being graded, as for instance, fruit and the like, as the danger of pinching is entirely eliminated. Y

A furthervobject is to' produce agrader wherein various grades or sizes 'may be quickly changed. 'p

A stillfurtherobject is to produce a grader which will handle a variety of different lmaterials by simply substituting different styles of grade chains. e, v Other objects and advantages will be ap- .Y parent during the course of the following description. v In the'accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification',- and in which like numerals are employed todesignate like parts throughout the same, v

Figure I is a top plan View of my machine partly broken away, p

Figure II is a side elevation of Figure I,

Figure III is a fragmentary detail view showing the manner of connecting the links, .Figure- IV is an end view of Aone of the center links,

Figure V is a side elevation of Figure IV,

Figure VI is a top plan view of Figure IV,

Figure VII is an endelevation of one of the under links,

Figure VIII is a top plan view of Figure VII,

Figure IX is a side elevation of one of the side links, and

Figure X is an end View of Figure IX.

In grading with an ordinaryrotary screen, it often occurs that flat rocks or elongated rocks enter the grader openings and vclog the hole. This is due to the fact that'the material within the grader is being tumbled around, which action causes a wearing of the grader.

I have sought to overcome these diiiiculties by providing a grader consisting of a plurality of chains having peculiarly shaped Y 7 and 8.

1927; serial No. 194,163.

links. kThis@ Chains travel Side by Side be-V tween spaced pulleys and in such a manner from one end of the machine to the opposite endof thek machine. f f

that the distance between the chains increases Y numerals and 6 refer to supports for shafts '.Ihe shafts 7 and 8 each have therey on aplurality of sprocket wheels as vshown at 9 and 11, respectively; e

By viewing Figure I, it will befnoted that the sprocket wheels 11 are spaced from each other a distance greater than the sprocket` wheels 9. The vresult being that as the chains Y in "passing from one -end of the machine lto the other end draw away from each other in travelling along thetop of the ma'chine,'and

then draw toward each other vin travellingV along the bottom ofthe machine.

` The chainsreferred to comprise a plurality ofgpeculiarly constructed links, which links will be hereinafter termed the middle links, the underlinks andthe side links.

Y Referring now to Figure VI, it vwill beV secnthat I have illustrated oneof the middle links which is provided with a `plurality of inclined faces 12, 13, 14, 16, 17, 18, 19 and 21, all oT" which facesvreach an apex at r22.v

i Formed upon the under side of the middle links designateda's a whole lby the numeral 15, are downwardly extending .parallel Vwebs 23 and 24. These webs' have openings 26 there-through for the receptionrof connecting` pins as will be hereinafter described.v

Referringnow toFigure VII, it will be noted that the Vunder links comprise tworela-v tively flat surfaces 27 and 2S, and two inclined surfacesv 29 and 31which terminate in an apex with downwardly extending parallel webs as `shown at 33 and 34,'which webs are also provided with holes therein for the same purpose before described. L

' The side links as illustrated in Figures IX and X are provided withan inclined surface 36 which inclined surface reaches an apex at 37 and contains a vertical outer wall 38.

Projecting from the inclined surface 36 is an extension 39 having inclined surfaces 41 and 42. These side links are also provided 'with downwardlyv extending parallel webs 43 and 44. These webs are provided with openings therethrough for the reception of connecting links. As all of the links in These under links are also provided ico the chain are connected in a similar manner, but one connection of the chain will be des scribed.

-Referring to Figure lll, l have shown aplurality of under links as the same would appear when viewed from the bottom. It will be noted that these links have their Webs in alignment with each lother and have interposed between each pair of links a connector lilock lG, which are of the same Width as the distance -between, the adjacent Walls of the Webs. i y

At 4:7, l have shown U-shaped connector pins -which extend through the Webs 33 and lli and also through the connector blocks 46.. These bring the end of the connector pins at a point beneath the bottom of the under links so that'cotter pins 48 may he introduced, which Cotter pins are entirely' protected against injury, as well as the possibility of their injuring any material being graded.

Assuming that a machine has been constructed in accordance with my invention as illustrated in Figure I' and that the saine is in operation, it will be readily seen that any material placed upon the grader Will roll toward the rectaneulareshaped openings formed between the overlapping links.

Material disposed upon the grader Will therefore overlie one of these openings as for inst-ance the opening A and assuming that We are grading oranges, if the` opening A is of sufficient size to allow the orange to pass therethrough, the same Will be disposed in a trough 49 and conveyed to any definite point for packing. w

Assuming that the orange is too large to passthrough the openino' f it Will travel with the conveyor until it reaches a position Where the links have moved a sufiicient da tance apart to permit thev orange to pass through the opening which We Will consider the point B. At this point the orange will drop through the opening and into the trough 5l.

In Figure l, I have shown hand Wheels 52 for tightening the chains if desired. These tightening means are not necessary to the operation of my device however.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herewith shown and described is to he taken as a preferredexample of the same, and that various changes relative to the shape, size, material and arrangement of parts may he resorted to Without departing from the spirit ofthe invention, or the scope of the suhjoined claim.

.Having thus described iny invent-ion, l claim f ln a grader of the character described, a pair of diver-ging chains` adapted to travel in the same horizontal plane, said chains being constructed of links having' a vertical outer Wall and an inclined surface extendingfrom the outer Wall of said links tothe inner Wall thereof, a projectionextending from each of said'links, said vextensions each having inclined surfaces diagonally disposed with relation to the direction of travel of the chains, a central chain comprising under links positioned between said first mentioned links, each of said under links comprising two relatively flat surfaces having their edges inclined With relation to the direction of movement of said chains and carrying thereon upwardly inclined surfaces, said inclined surfaces being parallel to the direction of travel of said chains.

In testimony whereof I ailiX my signature.

FRANK R. HOOD. 

